Feeder for metal blanks



May l5, 1923. 1,455,639

J. A. MCGINNIS FEEDER FOR METAL BLANKS FiledJune 27, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR.

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INVENTOR.

. 9 M M Mm, W Y ab@ W.. 1, y. .o 5 M I a m 1 s m L Y a Cu M M m M i fl1! Y l i @L Z D u Z l ,||1|| .|1l|| E F a n 5 /f lf fr Zf 4 n B 4 w .2n Y WNV i f vm z 4 L M J a .laZ 3 Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,455,639 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MCGINNIS, OF WHEELING. WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WHEELINGSTAMPING COMPANY. A CORPDRATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

FEEDERr FOR METAL BLANKS.

Application filed June 27, 1921.

Bv it known that I. JOHN A. hCGlNNiS. a citizen of thv, United States.residing;r at Yhevling. in thv ifoniity of Ohio and State of'llvvstVirginia. liarv invented a iivw and useful Iniprovvnivnt in Fvvdvrs` torMetal Blanks. of which thv following; :1 full. clear, and vxavtdvsvril'ition. rvfvrvnvv livin;r had t0 thv accompanying dra wings.formingA apart ot' this spvvitivation. in which:

Figure l is a Sidv elevation partly hrolivii away of a feeder embodyingin v invention;

Figiirv 2 is a plan Yivw:

Figure 3 is a svvtioii on thv linv III-lllV of Figui-v Q:

Figure l is a rvrtiviil svvtion taken in a planv :it substantiallyrighty anglvs to thv plane ot' the svvtion ol' li'liirv it;A

Fignrv 5 a top plan rivw sith Sonie. ot' thv t'vvdvr invnihvis`rviiiorvil:

Figure ti a side iivw ot i `ne of the fevdvr nivn'ihvis;

Fig'nrv T a top plan view ol' thv vut-ott' n ivniher:

Figurv 8 in a plan View partly broken away. Showing evi-tain partsy ofthe invvliaiiisin;

Fin'nrv t) a pvrnpvvtivv Yivw of one of thv lever inenibvrs. and

Figure l0 in a View partir in Sidv vlvvation and pai-tl).r in vvi'tivalSection showing thv vain post and adjacent parte.

Mi' in\vnti0n has rvlat'ion to a fvvdvr t'or nivtzil blanks and iSpartivularl)v designed For liSv in l'vviliii, r thv lilanlis urteil inYthv ii1aiil|- tiivtiire ol thv horlivb` :1nd raps ot' vollapsihlvnivtal tuhvs. :ilthongh it` is eipialllir wvll adaptvd Vtor use infeeding other cirriilar dialin or liliiiilcs.

The olijvvt oll nii' invention to provide a simple. vtliviviit. andrvliahlv l'vvdvr ot thil character h i' iiivaiis ol' whivh thv hliinlsina;V hv fed siicvvenirvly and :il rviriilar intervals to thv rnavliinvsor div:` whivli avt upon the hlzinlis aftvr ther are lvil. thvilvlii'vny ol' the hlanlis hy thv l`vvilvr living' in tiiiivd rvlationto the movvinviit of tihv forming divS.

The nature of my invention will be hvStiindvrstood h r refvrvnvv to thvarvompanyinnr drawings in which l hiii'v shown a prvlvrrvdvniliodiiiiviit ot nii' inrvntioii. which will now hv ilvsorihvd. ithviiiir prvinisvd5 however. that Yaiioiia4 vliniigfv#` inap' hv nitidoin tlin detaily of vonsiiintioii. :1..i'iiiigviiivnt and combination ofthe .Yiirvral parta withH Serial No. 480,658.

ont departing from the spirit and scope ot thv iiivvntion as defined inthv appvndi. iflaiiiis.

lii thvsv diawings. tho nunivriil 2 designates a siiitiihlv hopper whichis rigidlyY si cured to a liasv plato 8. ThiS hopper prefvralily hasdownwardly curved convex inner walls servingr to prevent lpilingr up ofthe hlaiil` hviiig' agitated. The shell of this hopper has its lowerportion 2 of larger internal and external diainvtvrs than theintermediate portion ot' thv hopper. this enlarged and otiset portionot` thv hopper vavity forming a SeatY for an annular ratchet, ring Jrharing pvriplieral tvvth 5. The ring IY is dvsigiivd to hv given :1Stvp-liy-stvp rotary iiiovvniviit, in an)v Snitalilv inaiinvr. In thvvonstriivtion shown. this n'iovvnivnt is vtievted hy nivans o'lA thvspring prvssvd pawl whivh iS pivotally nioniitvd at 7 upon arvviprovatin ql pawl arrivr har 8. The bar H is iiioiintvd torvviprovatv in siiitahln guides in thv liasv platv 3 and'liiis rigidlySecured ilii-rvlo an iipwardlitY extending post 9 in whivh is formi-d anoblique vain slot ltl (see "igiii'v 10). The slot is engaged by an anti-'t`rirlion rollvr l1 on thv vnd of an arm 1:2 whit-li in vonnvvtvd tosoiiiv moving part of Athv iiiarliinv wliivh the tvvdvr Supplies. Siivhas thv i'vviprovating Cross hvad or div carrivr li. (Svv Figure l). Asthv nieniher 13 is iiaipria-iitvd vvrtivally.l thv partS thus dv--st-rihvcl will operatv to vii'vvt a Stvp-hystvp rotation of the ringr4.

hvviirvil to thv ring lto rot-atv thvrvwith within thv lo .'vr portionof thv. hopper eiwit;Y arv two superimposed feeder inemlivrs if and '16.rl"hvsv inay bo connected to thv ring 4 in anyv Suitable mannvr aS bythe lit-li' 1T indicated in Figure 5. The two parts arel otx annularforni, and arc provided on their pvril'ihvries alignvd verticalteedingchannelsy 18 through which the blanks may pass hvtwvvn saidmembers, the lower pov tion of thv hoppvr cavity and the. inner wall ofthe ring 4. Tho twoinvmbeis l5 and 16 arv separated by a. cnt-0H" device19 shown in Figiirvs 4 and 7, and which is rigidly keyed to a lions 3 onthe hase plate 3. so as to romain stationary. This vut-off inenihvr isin thv foi-iii of an annular plate having a. segmental projection ma.This projection t9 ovvnpivs a. position directll over the diS- vhargvopening 20. Which lent s through tho has@ plat? 2 and communicates Withthe upper end of a delivery chute 21, the construction and arrangementof the passage 20 and the chute 21 being such that the metal blanks Acan drop therethrough in edgewise position.

22 designates an agitating device within the hopper cavity and which isfor the iurpose of preventing the metal blanks `troni packing toosolidly in the hopper. This device is in the form of the frustrum of acone and is mounted to revolve upon the pin 23 which is secured in thebase plate 3. Its periphery is formed with a helical rib 2-1, the

i pitch of which is directed upwardiy to thereexert a constant liftingaction upon the b sinks. The cone is rotated by a suitable connectionwith the feeder member 15, such as the dowel pin 25, shown in Figure 3.

26 designates a gate which is arranged to move into and ont of the upperportion of the chute 21 so as to alternately support `and release ablank failing through the chute. This gate is shown in blank-supportingposi tion in Figure 4. The gate is periodically actuated in proper timedrelation by any suitable means. In the drawings I have shovgn the gateas being carried by a reciprocating bar 27 which is actuated by a lever28 fulcrumed to the base plate 3 at 29 and hav` ing its opposite endprovided with a post 30 which projects upwardly between the twofollowers 31 of the centraiizing springs 3Q, which are seated in thereciprocating pawl carrier 8. he lever 28 also has an upwardlyprojecting guide pin 33 which works in a guide slot 34, as best shown inFigure 2. It will be readily' seen that the gate 2G will by means of theconnections just described, be reciprocated in proper timed relation tothe movements of the machine being supplied by the feeder, the actuatingmovement being derived from the part 13 of such machine.

If, for any reason, it is desired to empty the hopper quickly, themember .27 may be pulled outwardly to withdraw the gate 26 from thechute and may be liiid in this position by a latch device 35, which canbe swung into engagement with a notch 3G in said member 27.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing. The metalblanks A to be fed are placed in mass in the cavity of the hopper 2where they are constantly subjected to the loosening action of theagitator 22. The blanks are gradually worked into edgewise position,passing down into the channels in the feed members 15 and 16, as shownin Figure 4, the lowermost blanks resting upon the upper surface of thebase `plate until a lower blank is turned into registry with the upperend of the discharge passaee 20. At this time all of the blanks immeiately above the blank which is to be discharged into said channel aresupported b the segment 19* of the separator or cutl-o device 19.Therefore, only one blank at a time can be discharged, such dischargeoccurring at each stepbystcp rotation of the parts. Each blank is heldinthe shute 21 until it is released at the proper time by the withdrawalof the gate 2G.

-lily Vinvention provides a feeder of the character described which issimple in its construction and operation, there being a few movableparts and those being of a character such that they are not likely toget out of order. r1`he action of the feeder is there fore reliable andetlieient and can be depended upon to supply the blanks in regularsuccession and at the proper time intervals to the dies which shape theblanks. feeder is used in connection with machines for forming blanksfor parts of collapsible tubes, the dies in question may be thecxtrusion dies which form the body of the tubes, or they may be the dieswhich shape the caps or closures for the tubes. As above stated,however, my invention is not limited to use in connection with machinesof this particular character.

I claim:

1. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper having downwardly curvedconvex inner Walls, a conefshaped agitator rotatably mounted within thehopper and having a helical lifting rib upon its periphery, said ribhaving a pitch sufficient to move the blanks circumferentiallysimultaneously with the lifting thereof, and rotatable feeder means insaid hopper below said agitator, substantially as described.

2. In a feeder for metal blanks, a stationary hopper having downwardlycurved convex inner walls, an agitating device rotatably mounted withinsaid hopper, said agitating device being of conical form with means uponits surface adapted to exert a progressive and gradual lifting action onthe blanks in the hopper, and rotatable feeder means in said hopperbelow said agitator,

"substantially as described.

3. A blank feeder comprising a hopper, two superimposed feeder membersrotatably mounted within the hopper and having ptiripheral feedchannels, and a blank sepa- Yrator or cutoff device mounted in fixedposition between said feeder members, substantially as described.

4. A blank feeding device, comprising a fixed hopper, two superimposedfeeder mem bers rotatably mounted within the hopper and having aplurality of vertical feed channels, means vfor imparting a step-by-steprotary movement to said members, and a separatiner or cut-off deviceinterposed between said members, the base of the hopper having adischarge passage located directly below the effective portion of theseparating orcuboif device, substantially as described.

5. A blank feeding device, comprising a xVhen the tially as descrlbed.

a ratchet ring rotatably seated in said en- .larged portion, a pawlmechanism for 1ntermittently engaginer and actuating the ratchet ring,and fee er members rotatably .mounted within said hopper and ratchetring and having a plurality of vertical feeding channels arranged toreceive `and feed the blanks in edgewise positions, substantially asdescribed.

v7. A blank feeder comprisn a hopper having its lower portion interior yenlarged, a ratchet ring rotatably seated in said en- Alarged ortion, apawl mechanism for inten.

mittent y engaging and actuatin the ratchet rin and feeder membersrotata ly mounted wit in said hopper and ratchet ring and having aplurality of verticalffeeding channels arranged to receive and feed'theblanks inedgewise positions, together With a blank separating or cut-offAdevice held in fixed position between the 'feeder members', and thebase portion of the hopper member having a discharge'passage whose upperend is immediately below the effective portion of the separating orcut-off device, substan` 8. A blank feeder comprising a hopper, aplurality of feeder members rotatably `mounted within the hopper, thebase of the hopper having a discharge passage, a delivery chuteconnecting with the discharge passage. and a movable gate `for saidchute, together with means for reciprocating said gate, substantially asdescribed 9. In a feeder fornnetalblanks, a hopper having downwardlycurved convex inner walls, a feeder memberin said ho per rotatable aboutan axis extending Wardly through said hopper centrally thereof, and

means for receiving blanks from said memtially as described. a V v 10.In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper 'having downwardly curved convexinner Walls, a feeder member in saidhopper, 'an agitator for insuringthe delivery f blanks to said member, means for rotating said agitatorabout an axis extending upwardly through said hopper centrally thereof,and means for receiving blanks from said member, substantially asdescribed.'

11. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, an agitator therein, apluralityof feeder members rotatably mounted in said hopper below saidagitator, and means for receiving blanks as delivered by said members,substanti-ally as described.

l2. In a hopper for feedin metal blanks, a plurality of feeder mem ersrotatably mounted therein, each of said members having a blank receivingopening, cut-otl` means interposed between said members, and means forreceiving -blanks as delivered by said Ymembers, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a' feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, a base having a` deliveryopening, a .feeder member in said hopper, said melnber having a blankreceiving pocket, means for rotating said member to bringr the pocket-in alinement with said opening, and a cutolf above said memberpreventing the passage of a plurality of blanks through said openingwhen the pocket is in alnement therewith, substantially as described.

14. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hoper, a base yhaving a deliveryopening, a.

eeder member in said hopper, said memberhaving a blank receiving pocket;means for rotating said member to bring the pocket in alinement withsaid opening, a cut-off above said member preventing the passage of a jplurality of blanks through said opening when the pocket is in'alinement therewith, and a second feeder member above said cutoff,substantially as described.

15. In a feeder for metal blanks, a hopper, a base Vhaving a deliveryopening, a feeder member in said hopper, said member having a blankreceiving pocket, means .for rotating said member to bring the pocket inal'nement with said opening, a eut-oil' above said member preventing thepassage of a plurality of blanks through said openingwhen thepoeket is.in alinement therewith, and agitating means insuring the delivery ofblanksto said member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set -my hand.

.IQHN A. MGGINNIS loo" Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent-No. 1,455,639, granted May15, 1923, upon the applicetion "of John A. McGinnis', of Wheeling, WestVirginia, for an improvement in Feeders for Metal Blanks, .errors a pearin the printed specication requiring correct-ion as follows: Pge 1,line. 9g, after the Word periph' aries insert the word with; page linsert the syllables ber, snbstfm; `and that ythe said Letters `Patentshould be read with these corrections therein that the seme may conformto the record of the casein the Patent Oice. l

Signed and sealed this 19th day of June, ALD., 1923. y

[am] v jj Y WM. A. KINNAN,

Aoing Conwmsimwr of Patefwa.

3, line 55, claim 9, after the syllable mem4

